Journal box



Jan. 16, 1940. D. s. BARROWS JOURNAL BOX Filed Sept. 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 c n o Jan. 16, 1940. BARRQWS' 2,186,935

JOURNAL BOX Filed Sept. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BEAR ' for universal equalization therebetween.

ACHENE ELEMENTS,

MES (it GUIDES Patented Jan. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOURNAL BOX Application September 20, 1935, Serial No. 41,472

9 Claims.

This invention relates to journal boxes, and more particularly to articulated lids for closing the access openings thereof.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide an articulated lid comprising a cover member or lid proper, a hood or spring-actuating device which also serves as a lid-hinging means, a spring lever or shoe, and a spring normally acting between said hood and lever for urging the latter into engagement with the hinge lug of an associated box in order to hold the lid in open or closed position, said hood having a universal connection with the cover and said lever being pivotally connected to said hood between said universal connection and the top of the hood or hinge lug.

Another object of my invention is to provide an articulated journal box lid comprising a cover and hood connected by a ba l and socket joint said oint being as large as possible without encroachag on the necessary journal clearance. in order that vertical movement between said hood and cover might be arrested, thereby obviating damage from vibration of the whole assembly. said hood extending laterally over the top edge of the cover so as to shield the joint between said cover and box.

A further object of my invention is the simplification of the spring lever of an articulated lid. as above described. by makin it re atively short and pivoting it to the hood above the unive sal connection between said hood and cover so that it functions substantially as a mere sp ing shoe for the associated helical sprin the spring-engaged surface of said lever having side portions disposed at angles to the central portion formin an ap roximately convex spring-bearin surface, allowing for movement of the lever with respect to the hood while still retaining a portion of the spring-bearing surface on the lever substantially normal to the axis of the spring.

Otler objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention. the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:

Fig. l is an outer elevational view of one form of my articulated journal box lid.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1, the direction of view being indicated by the arrows and a portion of the associated journal box and hinge lug being diagrammatically illustrated.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the hood or springactuating device, on the line 22 of Fig. 1, separated from the associated parts.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the cover or lid proper, on the line 22 of Fig. 1, when said cover is separated from the associated parts.

Fig. 6 is a partial bottom plan of the cover and partial sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the spring lever or shoe, on the line 22 of Fig. 1, separated from the associated parts.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the lower end of the spring lever, as shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an outer elevational view of the spring lever shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, there is shown a journal box I with a usual form of hinge lug 2, the outer or access opening 3 of said box being normally closed by an articulated lid 4. The hinge lug 2, which is, as usual, formed on the roof or top wall 5 of the journal box, is perforated at 6 to receive a hinge pin or pintle l, which pin in the present embodiment is of the plain cylindrical type.

The lid assembly of the present embodiment comprises a cover or lid proper 8, a hood, carrier member or spring-actuating device 9, a lever or spring shoe l0, and actuating-spring means H which in the present embodiment take the form of an outer coil spring I2 and inner coil spring l3. The lid assembly is pivotally connected to the box through the hood 9 by having the pintle I extend through the aperture 6 in the hinge lug and the perforated ears or loops M on the hood. The lever l cooperates with the angularly dis posed faces l and IS on the hinge lug 2 to hold the lid in either open or closed position, as will be understood.

The cover 8 is in the present embodiment shown formed as a casting with an outwardly opening pocket I! forming the socket which receives the ball or convex spherical lower portion l8 of the hood 9. The socket I1 is formed relatively large and provided with a relieved portion l9, which may contain lubricant, so that the bearing Will be above and below the center of the pocket in order to take care of vibration forces tending 55 to produce vertical movement between the hood 9 and the lid proper 8. If desired, disconnection between the hood 9 and cover 8 is prevented after assembly between the parts by the upwardly extending end portion 26 of the spring latch 2|, said latch being approximately of the form described and claimed in the Madison application, Serial No. 37,583, filed Aug. 23, 1935.

Instead of merely securing the latch 2| to the cover 8 by means of rivets 22, as in the Madison application referred to, I preferably provide lateral abutments 23 on the outer face of the cover 8 snugly receiving the latch 2| therebetween and thereby relieving the rivets 22 of shearing stresses, if the latch is subjected to force tending to twist it about the rivets, that is, force acting approximately parallel to the lower edge of the lid. I also prefer to use a reinforcement 24 for the latch spring, said reinforcement desirably being formed as a rectangular piece of spring metal secured over the latch 2| by the same rivets 22 and having its lower edge bent outwardly, as indicated at 25, thereby normally preventing the latch 2| from being bent too sharply about the lower rivet 22.

The hood 9 is also desirably formed as a casting, and the upper portion not only provides an abutment 26 for the resilient means H, but also the hinging ears I4. The hood is desirably extended laterally beyond said hinging ears to provide a skirt or flange portion 21 desirably angular in section and reinforced by outstanding beading 28, as illustrated most clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, for shielding the joint between the upper edge of the lid and the engaged portion of the journal box,

The outer ends of the hinging ear portions l4 are desirably joined by flange portions 29 extending toward the box from the outer web or Wall 36 of the hood, and also serving to shield the joint between the lid and box in the neighborhood of the hinge lug 2. The hinging ears or hubs I4 are desirably extended inwardly beyond the side walls 3| of the hood to provide abutments or limiting portions cooperating with lugs 32 upstanding from the top edge portion of the closure member 8 to limit relative angling between said hood and closure member when the parts are assembled.

In order to avoid a separate pivot pin between the lever or spring shoe l0, shown formed as a casting, and the hood 9, said lever 10 is provided with outstanding trunnion portions 33 desirably formed generally crescent-shape in section to make it possible to assemble said trunnion portions in the bearing or hub portions 34 on the hood by moving the lever It] to the position diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3 when the trunnion portions 33 may be laterally inserted in place in said bearing or hub portions 34 through the illustrated slots in the walls thereof. The slots, as shown, occupy less than 90 of the hub peripheries, because of the thinness of the trunnion portions 33. and the corresponding portion of the hood are provided with apertures 35 and 36, respectively, adapted to register upon compression of the spring means H for receiving a nail or other retaining device (not shown) for holding the spring means H compressed and facilitating the assembly of the lid with respect to the box.

In order to prevent loss or undesired removal of the pin 1, each ear I4 of the hood 9 is provided with a flange portion 3'! partially closing the 15 opening 38 therethrough so that it overlies part The upper end of the lever of the corresponding end of the pin when the hood is pressed outwardly by the spring means I l thereby positively retaining the pin 7 in place.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the lever 16 as well as the bearing portion 26 of the hood 9 are pocketed to receive the corresponding ends of the springs l2 and 13, thereby preventing undesired displacement thereof when in service.

The cover 8 is desirably provided with an oil drain rib 39 which extends inwardly from the inner face and diagonally downward from the edge portions of the lid and with its intermediate portion disposed on a curve which is concave upwardly, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 1. The curved lower portion of the oil drain flange desirably has a serrated or saw-toothed edge, preferably formed along a succession of concavely curved portions, providing a series of points 40 from which the oil is adapted to drop. The cover also desirably has a rib or bead 4! outstanding from the peripheral portion for stifiening purposes. In addition to the pocket I! receiving the ball l8 of the joint with the hood 9, the cover 8 is also desirably formed with a smaller outwardly opening pocket 42 providing clearance with respect to the hub portions 34 in which are pivoted the trunnions 33 of the lever 16.

A lid such as previously disclosed is, during shipment, desirably provided with a rod or heavy nail (not shown) threaded through the holes 36 in the side walls of the forward hood extension and corresponding holes 35 in outstanding lugs 43 at the upper ends of the side or reinforcing flanges 44 of the lever 10, whereby the springs l2 and [3 are held under pressure. The lid is desirably applied to the box by fitting the pin 1 through an aperture 38 in the ear l4 and the aperture 6 in the hinge lug. The lid is then rotated until the lever or shoe I6 contacts with the highest point of the lug. The nail or springtensionin means may then be withdrawn and the pin will be automatically locked in position by the flanges 31, on account of the spring pressure holding said flanges over the ends of the p11].

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, the parts shown as castings may, if desired. be formed as pressings. Also, the spring latch 2| may be omitted and the ball l8 and socket I! secured together by other means such, for example, as the plate 24 extended sufficiently so as to lock the ball in place in the socket.

I claim:

1. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, an articulated lid including a cover with an outwardly opening socket adjacent the center thereof, a hood with a ball-shaped lower portion fitting in said socket for universal movement thereof, a lever pivoted directly to said hood above said ball and socket connection, a helical spring acting between said hood and the upper portion of said lever for urging the latter into engagement with said lug to hold the lid in open or closed position, and means pivotally connecting said lid and lug.

2. A journal box lid comprising a cover with an outwardly opening socket adjacent the center, a spring-actuating member with a ballshaped lower end fitting in said socket to provide a ball and socket joint, the central portion of said joint being relieved to provide a cavity adapted to reeive lubricant and form direct bear- 3G8. MAQEHNE ELEMENTS,

ings above and below said cavity to overcome vertical movement of the spring-actuating means with respect to the cover, a spring shoe pivoted to said spring-actuating means above the connections thereof with said cover, and a spring acting between said actuating means and shoe.

3. A journal box lid comprising a cover with an approximately semi-spherical socket opening outwardly from its outer face, a hood with a hollow lower end portion formed to correspond and fitting in said socket, and a separately formed plate detachably secured to said cover below said socket and with its upper portion overlying part of the hollow lower end portion of said hood for maintaining the said portion of the hood assembled in the socket of the cover, and means on said cover abutting said plate.

4. A journal box lid comprising a cover, a hood movably connected to said cover and formed with hollow generally cylindrical bearing portions spaced from the hood outer wall and extending toward one another on the inside of said hood, a spring lever formed with outstanding trunnion portions, and a spring acting between said hood and upper portion of said spring lever, said trunnion portions being generally crescentshaped in section, and the bearing portions being formed with slots in the sides, occupying less than of the periphery thereof to provide for connection and disconnection of the lever with respect thereto when said lever has been turned to an abnormal angular position.

5. A journal box lid comprising a cover, a hood with its lower portion movably connected to said cover, said hood having hinge ears provided with portions extending toward one another beyond the side walls of said hood to provide abutments, and said cover having lugs extending from the upper ed e portion thereof and cooperating with said abutments to limit angling therebetween.

6. In combination a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid comprising a cover, a hood movably connected to said cover, a pin serving to pivotally connect said lid to said box, said hood having elongated apertures to receive said pivot pin and integral flanges partially closing the outer ends of said apertures, and resilient means normally holding said flanges in alignment with said pivot pin to prevent undesired removal or loss of said pm.

7. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid pivotally connected to said lug and comprising a cover with an outwardly opening socket adjacent the central portion thereof, a hood with a relatively narrow hollow lower portion, convex toward the cover, generally semispherical in shape and fitting in said socket for universal movement with respect to said cover, a lever pivoted to said hood above said ball and socket connection, the upper end portion of said lever and the oppositely disposed portion of said hood being formed with pockets opening toward one another, and a coil spring substantially in alignment with said lug and with its end portions seated in said pockets.

8. A journal box lid comprising a cover with an outwardly opening socket, a hood with a lower end portion shaped generally semi-spherical and fitting in said socket, a spring latch secured to the lower portion of said cover and formed with an extension overlying said semi-spherical portion for preventing undesired disassembly between said hood and cover, and rib portions on. said cover lying on opposite sides of said latch to prevent turning thereof.

9. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid pivotally connected to said lug and comprising a cover with an outwardly opening pocket, a hood with a lower end portion movably mounted in said pocket, and a spring latch secured to the lower portion of said cover and formed with an extension overlying a portion 01 said pocket and the lower end portion of said hood therein, to prevent undesired disconnection between said hood and cover; said spring latch having a portion thereof engaging said journal box.

DONALD S. BARROWS.

D I S C L A I M E R 2,186,935.D0nald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y JOURNAL Box Patent dated Jan. 16, 1940 Disclaimer filed Oct. 25, 1945 assignee, The Symingt Hereby enter this disclaimer [Official Gazette Novembe on-Go uld Corporation. to claim 6 of said patent. r 27, 1945.] 

